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Survivors’ Safety Manual for Attending Conferences

Survivors’ Safety Manual for Attending Conferences

Survivors’ Safety Manual for Attending Conferences

Survivors’ Safety Manual for Attending Conferences

It was not the first conference Martha had attended, but it was certainly the last. She had been excited for months before the event to finally be meeting some of the people she had only known online. She had trusted that the conference planners had taken into consideration any safety provisions for the conference. And, she knew that the speakers were professional and aware that trauma survivors would be attending. The topic of the conference had to do with Satanic Ritual Abuse and Mind Control, which was what had drawn Martha to attend. She totally trusted those in charge of holding the conference.

As she listened to the introductory statements, she realized that she no longer felt safe. She had not thought to bring a support person. Nor, had she realized that simple hand movements, gestures, winks, etc. could be so effective in programing anyone through Mind Control. She began looking around at the other attendees – wondering if those tapping their pencil were actually Mind Control experts. One man, who was sitting next to her, had shook her hand earlier. Had he programmed her? She began feeling sick to her stomach. Her childhood programming was triggered, and she heard the voices in her head, “Don’t trust anyone.” As the speaker continued, she recognized paranoid delusions creeping closer to the surface. Martha had spent some fifteen years with a therapist working through acknowledging the difference between being in touch with reality and knowing when she was moving into psychotic thinking. Now, she was becoming more and more confused. Nothing was making sense, and her head was spinning. People can’t ‘really’ Mind Control others with hand gestures and winks – can they? No, it made no sense? But, the speaker was adamant – and, a supposed expert on the Mind Control and programming. Was he paranoid and delusional? That possibility brought even more fear. Was he trying to control attendees to believe him the ‘savior’ – the only one she could trust?

Martha did as she was told by the conference planners until the conference ended. As she flew the three hours toward home, she felt dizzy and dissociated knowing that all the work she had done in therapy had been thwarted during that two days she had spent watching every attendee for multiple signs that she could not trust them – that they were programming her. And, she knew that they were all doing the same with her. The attendees that she was excited to meet didn’t trusted her, either. It was all like a real-life horror show she had seen on Netflix.

I did not attend that conference, but can imagine how scary the scenario would be. I would like to assure everyone that no one has the ‘power’ to program or practice Mind Control by using hand signals, shaking hands, talking, winking, tapping their pencil, etc. That is clearly paranoid, delusional thinking meant to create fear and confusion.

Since the 2016 Trauma and Dissociation Conference is coming us soon, and though we have never had a problem with safety, I think it a wise idea to list some safety thoughts and ideas for everyone to consider for any ‘normal’ conference.

Check out the venue where the conference is being held.

Is there adequate security?

Is there a security plan in place?

Are the rooms secure within the hotel premises?

Do you know who/how to report if you feel uncomfortable/unsafe or you have been hurt?

Remember that your room is your private area. Use public areas to meet with people you don’t know well.

Look around the conference area, become familiar with the hotel, and meet others as you like.

Trust yourself, your boundaries, your strength, and your ability to be there safely.

Understand that information you read on the internet (from other sources) that seems ‘scary’ is not based on anything more than personal paranoid, delusions of the writer and not ‘truth’.

If conference planners are professional, the venue is reputable, the speakers are well-known, and the company has no personal agenda and are not financially benefiting, you can feel perfectly safe and comfortable attending.

Remember that most conferences are held in public areas where safety is not an issue. In fact, you are safer there than in your local grocery store. Attendees, hotel staff, and conference planners are all there for each other.

If anyone has concerns about attending the 2016 Trauma and Dissociation Conference, please contact me.

nicely put, especially the basic safety parameters for airports and hotels.also good to not let unreasonable fears spoil an otherwise good conference experience."Knowing your own triggers" is not at all the same as being frightened by the possibility of someone "programming" you with activities that are random and ordinary in nature.

wishing you well- Krathyn, Sebastian, Strawberry, Easebeth, PetreaKrathyn of We5: we accept all intentions of support--

Know the area - for instance, find the Ivory Garden exhibit table. We always have extra seating there where there are safe people who you can talk to for any reason. If you feel best getting some alone-time, find the place where you feel most comfortable: the park area right outside the conference rooms, the swimming pool area, the lounge area with fireplace and cushy chairs, your room, etc. If you feel best with someone, there will be many people there whom you sit with and just talk. Make plans ahead of time.

If you know that you can feel 'trapped' in rooms with presenters, there will be seats in the back two rows where you can sit with your back to the wall and come in an out as you please.

A simple way to avoid hugging is to just step back a step if someone begins to hug you. If some do like hugs, practice 'switching out' so they can enjoy hugging. Make a plan.

I you lose time or know that you can get confused - a good general rules is to bring something that you can use to ground. Please don't bring teddy bears or dolls to the presentations. But, a small stone you can rub, a hand sized stuffy that you can hold or put in your pocket, a stress ball, anything like that is helpful.

Everyone will be getting a binder with information inside and a grab bag. It is sometimes helpful to draw or color - you can bring your own or we will have available color pencils and color sheets to put in the binders - during presentations. A binder is also helpful for some to be able to hold in front of you to feel more protected.

These are just some ideas - if you have other triggers - like blinking lights - let someone know right away so that can be fixed or whatever. If you feel unsafe for any reason, report why to security or hotel staff right away. It is hotel staff and our responsibility to keep the venue safe - not yours'.

Know, before you head out, that you will not be alone. Most will come into the hotel on Thursday - the day before the conference - and, we will have refreshments, meetups, pre-registration and we will even need help on Thursday. So, come down and spend that time hanging out - even if you aren't feeling 'social' - you will soon discover that you are with friends. If you live in the area, come over on Thursday afternoon or evening and pick up your nametag, grab bag, and program - and, say hello - if you like. Parking is free.

Know that it is perfectly normal to feel nervous attending a conference - and, a bit exciting also. I have attended many, flown many times, and stayed in different hotels all over the US. I can say that I am nervous and want to back out at the last minute every time. I always have a friend whom I can call when I get to the airport and as soon as I land who will talk to me while I am in the airport, etc. This helps me so much - to hear a familiar voice while I am feeling alone. We have people at the conference who you can connect with also.

Remember that if you need any accommodations at the airport, you just need ask and they will have someone there to help you - find your way around, get you to baggage, carry your luggage, etc.

This is one time that you do not need to feel 'alone' - it is one time where everyone actually accommodates your wishes and helps you learn that you can really count on people. And, at the same time you are independent - it is a safe and healing experience that can't be replicated elsewhere.

Though I'm not attending the conference this year, there is a lot of good information here not just for the conference, but for any new situation one might encounter. Thank you for taking the time to compile this.

it is good to know your own triggers and also your physical limits. when you go to bed and get up and if and when you take medications is part of your plan and you will be responsible and on your own. Last year i forgot to take needed medication twice in a row and had a seizure toward the end of the conference. I have alarms on my phone now when to take it! you may want to pay attention to how long you can sit or stand and vary your activities, too.we are all different, but we are all alike in some regards.

wishing you well- Krathyn, Sebastian, Strawberry, Easebeth, PetreaKrathyn of We5: we accept all intentions of support--

I just read another article on the internet about how attending conferences and/or being on forums can be dangerous to survivors - or, seemingly anyone - because 'everyone' can be programmed and/or hypnotized without even being aware. I actually responded to one of these posts on fb, (written by someone who also has conferences and a forum) but my response was deleted. Why would anyone delete my response unless they don't believe their own opinion enough to answer my questions?

I understand and know that there are 'true believers' out there leading the 'SRA/Mind Control' communities who do believe that 'everyone' is 'programmed' and most don't even know it, that 'anyone' can easily be hypnotized and controlled, and programmed with simple hand movements and a wink of the eye or itching their nose, that people are 'cult' controlled, and oblivious. These people express that we all need to be protected by those in the 'know' about SRA and Mind Control.

I, personally, don't have anything to do with these 'communities' or people. I view them as 'fear mongers' - convincing people that their paranoia and delusional thinking is based on reality rather than their personal bias' and beliefs.

Survivors are vulnerable to these sorts of 'warnings', as they are triggering and bring up past fears that we all have. I, however, have a background of SRA and Mind Control and have never been hypnotized, controlled and/or programmed by anyone in a public place in these manners. I have never even heard of it happening to anyone irl. But, these people's argument would go something like this - I am just not aware - and/or I am responsible without my knowledge. So, the idea is that none of us can heal, move forward, or trust any person or place.

I do know that paranoia, fear, and delusional thinking lead to isolation and an inability to trust anyone fully. These people would argue that I am 'trying' to access people in order to program them. All of this can make sense if we trust the warning itself, and the folks who are promoting this idea would seem trustworthy, but we have to see that they have fallen into their own delusions and paranoia - something we don't 'have' to accept as our truth. If we trust in ourself, we realize our own strength and ability to move beyond unrealistic fears meant to control and isolate us.

I find these warning to be truly scary - not because they are realistic, but because these supposed leaders are circulating them in order to stop survivors from attending conferences that have so clearly helped attendees find their own strength and the educated so valuable from experts rather than survivors who only copy and paste articles from the net and believe whatever they read until they become paranoid and delusional to real life.

We spend an immense amount of time planning a conference that is 'safe', the speakers 'are' experts in their field, have worked with survivors for more years than the internet has been open, and are trusted by hundreds of thousand of survivors and professionals. They speak on SRA and programming, healing, coping skills, dissociation, and provide for clinicians, survivors, and supporters good solid information from many different perspectives.

This being our third conference, we have never heard one single attendee leave the conference, returning home - do anything but talk about how the conference 'changed their life' in positive ways - they felt a new found strength, met trustworthy people, and knowledge for them to help others or themselves move forward. If they were hypnotized or programmed during the conference, that would not be the case - of course that did not happen. It is ridiculous - people will believe anything if they hear it enough. (For those who have fallen into this belief, I do validate your reasons - I understand).

My thoughts are that, yes, the world can be an 'unsafe' place. But, staying safe is a matter of taking realistic precautions, which I listed in the original post of this thread. I do not believe that anyone has the power to hypnotize someone by simply looking at them and/or program someone with a handshake and/or scratching their face.

And, I won't let these notions affect the amazing conference that we hold. I look forward to meeting each and every person who comes and interacting with all of the speakers and being in their workshops. This is a one-time event where we can all get together for one common cause - to trust and build community through getting to know each other in a safe environment.

If I believed this crap, I would feel prone to watch everyone I met for a handshake or a scratching of the face without the option of just accepting everyone for whom they are - special and significant. I know well that accepting everyone gives me a chance to meet people and enjoy their company in a healthy way. Fear causes anxiety and isolation - how is that a 'good' thing. Listening to others and acting on their paranoia and delusions, rather than myself, is the epitome of 'programming' - right?

And, the promotion of this sort of thinking is exactly what causes survivors to lose all credibility - because it does 'sound' so very ridiculous - the entire notion is actually not based on any reality. Where is any evidence?

We are looking forward to our best conference ever. If you fear going, because of this sort of 'fear mongering', then do - stay home, because that sort of paranoia will cause you so much anxiety as to make it impossible for you to fully experience the event.

those of us who are going, are looking forward to a wonderful conference!something i look forward to every year is meeting some of the faces that go with the names that write on this board.there are educational workshops, and fun ones too. and there are books and art to look at and to buy, and jewelry. we can go to places of interest in Seattlehave good meals with each otherand well, not programming or any other fearmongering. within reasonable safety guidelines we are safe and will be happy!

wishing you well- Krathyn, Sebastian, Strawberry, Easebeth, PetreaKrathyn of We5: we accept all intentions of support--

Yep, you are certainly correct. We love being there - or we wouldn't put so much work into it all. If anyone does feel unsafe, we provide for that at our table - so, people can come talk to us - and, we always have volunteers trained in that sort of thing -

i have been to two Ivory Garden conferences and two Benefits Planning conferences and with all that being in Seattle, have never gone to the Space Needle.I did not have enough money with me the first time.the time when a group from our group went last year was during a time i had something else important to do.This time I have money and have the intention to go, if i can find someone "safe" to go with! it is not part of the Conference but seems to be part of the Seattle experience no one should miss--certainly if one has been to Seattle this many times!Something else I look forward to.

wishing you well- Krathyn, Sebastian, Strawberry, Easebeth, PetreaKrathyn of We5: we accept all intentions of support--

We've never been to Seattle before!! If we can find a roommate for the 3 nights we're there, we may be able to afford to go to the space needle! We just need 1 roommate who will split the cost of a room.